5-star edge Jared Smith opens up on decision to Auburn football commitment

Five-star edge rusher Jared Smith shares his thoughts on committing to the Auburn football program this weekend.

5-star edge Jared Smith opens up on his decision to commit to the Auburn football program this weekend

The Auburn football program has been on a roll with recruiting since Big Cat Weekend. After securing three commitments for the 2026 class, the 2025 class gained momentum with the addition of 4-star cornerback Blake Woodby. The Tigers also managed to flip two recruits from in-state rival Alabama: wide receiver Derick Smith and defensive lineman Antonio Coleman. Just days later, 4-star safety Anquon Fegans joined the class.

 

 

This weekend brought more good news with the commitment of 5-star edge rusher Jared Smith. Smith, from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, is currently teammates with fellow Auburn commit Anquon Fegans.

During a commitment ceremony in Birmingham on Saturday, Smith had a poster listing USC, South Carolina, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, and Ole Miss as his options. After announcing his commitment to Auburn, he revealed a childhood photo of himself proudly holding an Auburn hat, surrounded by family members in Alabama gear, as captured in a tweet by AL.com’s Ainslie Lee.

Pictured: A young Jared Smith going against the grain.

Auburn soon. pic.twitter.com/kY3WdOo4gT

— Ainslie Lee (@ainslielee_) August 4, 2024

For Jared Smith, Auburn has always been his choice.

“I’m an underdog,” Smith said, according to AL.com. “Every time the Iron Bowl came around, everyone would say Alabama was going to win, but I’d root for Auburn. Then the Kick Six happened, and it all started from there.”

The Tigers were long considered the frontrunners for Smith, largely due to the efforts of linebackers coach Josh Aldridge and head coach Hugh Freeze. Smith’s visits to Auburn solidified his decision.

“Man, it’s just the people,” Smith told Auburn Undercover. “The people, the culture, the atmosphere. It’s the best recruiting class right now, and I want to be a part of it.”

Smith is ranked as the #2 edge rusher in the 2025 class and the #2 recruit in Alabama. With Smith’s commitment, Auburn now has eight of the top 10 players in the state for the 2025 class, which is ranked #5 overall. Smith becomes the highest-ranked player in Auburn’s class, surpassing defensive lineman Malik Autry.